Powered rotary brush

ABSTRACT

.Iadd.A sweeping machine having a frame, a pair of support members, and means for mounting the support members on the frame. A brush is rotatably mounted between the support members. A drive mechanism for the brush includes a source of power in a form capable of being transmitted by conduit means and a motor attached to one of the support members and being located substantially within an interior chamber defined by the brush and with the motor being capable of utilizing power from the source to rotate the brush..Iaddend.

This invention relates to powered rotary brushes and more particularlyto a rotary brush wherein the drive unit for powering the brush iscontained inside the brush dimensions so that no external rotating drivemembers are present.

Presently, in general practice, cylindrical brushes and similarcylindrically shaped implements used for power driven sweeping andmaintenance equipment are mounted on an axial shaft or stub shaftsdriven through suitable chain and sprocket or similar arrangements froma source of power remote from or external to the brush itself. Suchdrive arrangements cause many problems in operation due to foreignmaterial getting into the drive, as well as requiring unnecessarilyheavy structural components for holding the drives, increased difficultyin maintenance and changing or brush or other implement, and othertechnical and functional difficulties. Increased overall width ofmachines using conventional drives is also a problem where compactnessis important, as in a street sweeping machine.

In order to overcome the problems involved with using external drivemembers as well as to provide for complete interchangeability of brushesor other implements, various devices have been advanced, none of whichhave proved entirely satisfactory.

The invention is specifically illustrated with reference to a tubularbrush such as disclosed in Pat. No. 2,879,534, having a tubular core andbristles of various materials for sweeping polishing, scouring, etc.Insofar as concerns the present invention, the working implement may beany tool of similar general configuration having a tubular core on theperiphery of which there is attached working elements which operate in acylindrical path. Therefore in this specification the word "implement"will be used and will be understood to be inclusive of brushes, fans,abrading tools, etc. having a tubular center and an exterior workingelement.

The device disclosed in the present invention includes a completelyenclosed rotating implement wherein the drive for the implement is ahydraulic motor and system, the motor being positioned partially orentirely within a tubular core member of the implement. There are noexternal drive parts used in connection with this device.

The tubular core of the implement has end flanges fixedly mounted to thecore. A first of the end flanges, which is on the idler end of theimplement, is positioned at or near the end of the tubular core and isrotatably mounted with respect to a support arm or other frame which inturn is mounted on the machine propelling the implement. Adjacent theother end of the implement, which is the drive end, and inside a tubularcore thereof, a second end flange is fastened and it is spaced inwardlyfrom the end of the core. An "L-shaped" support arm or frame piece ismounted on the machine propelling the implement and one leg of the Lextends into the interior of the tubular core. A hydraulic motor havinga powered output shaft is fixedly attached to the leg of the support armadjacent the second end flange of the implement. The hydraulic motor hasa rotatable powered output shaft which in turn is drivably connected tothe second end flange. The hydraulic motor is powered by fluid underpressure conducted through lines which, as disclosed, may be comprisedas passageways within the L-shaped support arm itself or sturdy exteriorlines mounted thereon. When the hydraulic motor is powered the implementis rotated for use. The only power connections from the brush to themachine propelling it are the two hydraulic conduits.

The implement can be mounted on any type of support mechanism. In thefollowing specification two variations of support mechanisms are shown,one wherein the implement is a brush and is enclosed within the frame ofthe vehicle propelling it and the other wherein the implement is a heavybrush mounted ahead of the vehicle so that it can be used for windrowingswept material, such as dirt, debris, snow, etc. In either case, thepower connections from the vehicle to the implement are composed solelyby hydraulic conduits and the entire drive mechanism per se is containedwithin the core of the implement. This eliminates troublesome chain,gear or V-belt drives and reduces maintenance costs as well as makingthe whole device rugged, compact and its appearance more appealing.

While this invention is specifically illustrated with reference to apower driven brushing or sweeping machine, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited thereby and, as hereinbefore mentioned, theinvention may be employed with equal advantages whereover a tubularcylindrical power driven implement is employed.

It is an object of the present invention to present a rotating tubularmember having a self-contained power unit;

It is another object of the present invention to present a rotarytubular implement utilizing a self-contained hydraulic motor for apowering member.

It is a still further object of the present invention to present a powerdriven rotary implement wherein there are no external rotating drivemembers and the implement is driven directly by a hydraulic motorwithout external speed reduction mechanism.

Other and further objects are those inherent in the invention hereinillustrated, described and claimed, and will be apparent as thedescription proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this inventionthen comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the following descriptions setting forth indetail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these beingindicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which theprinciples of the invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a power driven street sweepingmachine having a rotary brush made according to the present inventioninstalled thereon;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational view of a power drivenrotary brush mounted on the street sweeping machine shown in FIG. 1 withparts in section and parts broken away to show the drive mechanism ofthe rotary brush;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken as on line 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as on line 4--4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of an end support member of the deviceof the invention taken as on line 5--5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken as on line 6--6 in FIG. 3showing the unitary support arm and self contained conduits to mount thehydraulic motor and supply hydraulic fluid under pressure to thehydraulic motor used to drive the rotating implement;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary form of a hydraulic motorused to power a rotary implement made according to the presentinvention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a rotary brush mounted on a sweeping machineaccording to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 being afragmentary side elevational view thereof and FIG. 9 a top plan view ofthe device of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a rotary implement showing amodified mounting for a hydraulic drive motor wherein the motor ispartially positioned within the tubular member.

A power driven sweeper illustrated generally at 10 includes a lower mainframe member 11 that is mounted on rotatable spaced front support idlerwheels 12 and rear drive and steering wheel or wheels 13. An engine ismounted under a sheet metal hool 14 and serves to power the vehicle andsupply power to operate the various sweeping brushes and accessories. Afront curb or gathering brush 15 is drivably rotatably mounted at thefront of the machine and a main (cylindrical) center brush 16 isrotatably mounted with its axis transverse to the normal path of motionof the machine, at a central location beneath the frame of the machine,in this illustrated embodiment.

This invention pertains to the main cylindrical brush 16, which is theimplement illustrated. This center brush 16 is mounted within a housing17 and a door 20 (and a similar door on the opposite side) opens throughframe 11 to the housing 17 to provide access to the brush. A flexibleskirt 21 is mounted around the lower edge of housing 17 and travels inclose proximity to a surface 22 to be swept. The brush 16 is rotated indirection as indicated by arrow 23 and dirt and foreign objects on thesurface 22 are swept into a pan 24 positioned ahead of the rotary brush.The front housing 25 of the street sweeping machine houses a filter (notshown), for separating the dust from the air flowing through thehousing. In the machine illustrated, the upper surface of the filter(not shown) is covered by a suitable plenum chamber which is maintainedat a negative pressure by suitable vacuum blower equipment, asillustrated in the copending application of Ralph C. Peabody and KeithN. Krier Ser. No. 137,864, filed Sept. 13, 1961. Air flow thus inducedcauses dust to be drawn from housing 17 along with the swept dirt. Thepan 24 retains the larger dirt particles swept up and dust shaken fromthe filters is also caught in the pan 24. The front housing 25(including pan 24) is removable from the main frame 11 of the streetsweeping machine. This is accomplished by mounting it on a pair of arms26, 26 each of which has a socket or notch 27 provided therein. The arms26, 26 swing up about pivot axis 123 under power to raise or lower thepan 24 and housing 25 and can be used for mounting other devices toprovide multiple uses of the sweeping machine, if desired.

The rotary brush 16 is mounted transverse to the direction of movementof the sweeping machine and is best seen in FIG. 3.

The rotary brush 16 is mounted between an idler end support assemblygenerally designated 30 and a drive end support assembly generallydesignated 31. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the brush 16 is comprised of atubular core member 32 having bristles 33 fixedly attached theretoaround the outer periphery thereof. This form of brush construction isfully described in Pat. No. 2,879,534. The tubular core 32 is hollow at39, and, according to this invention this space is used for locating thehydraulic drive motor. The drive end support assembly 31 and the idlerend support assembly 30 are, in effect, arms which are mounted on acommon pivot shaft 34 that in turn is rotatably mounted in suitablebearings 35, 35 which are fixed to frame side plates 36, 36 of thesweeping machine 10. A pair of lift arms 37, 37 are fixedly attached tothe pivot shaft 34. The lift arms 37, 37 are controlled through a pairof lift rods 38, 38 that in turn are movable in directions as indicatedby double arrow 42 through power mechanisms (not shown) on the sweepingmachine for swinging arms 30 and 31 to thus raise and lower the axis ofbrush 16.

It will be seen in FIG. 2 that the pivot shaft 34 for the end members ofthe roller is mounted forwardly from the axis of rotation of the brush16.

The idler end support assembly 30 includes an arm assembly 43 that hasan integral hub 44 that is pinned at 45 on the shaft 34. As shown inFIG. 5, arm assembly 43 includes a detachably secured disc-shaped shieldmember 46 which is held in place by screws 43A which are accessiblethrough door 20. The rotary brush 16 is journalled on the axis of thisdisc-shaped member 46.

A flange or metal stamping 47 shaped as shown in FIG. 3 fits into theend of the tube 32. This flange 47 is fastened to the core 32 with aplurality of rivets 48. The flange includes an integral tubular hub 51that is concentric with the axis of rotation of the rotary brush.

A wheel like member 52 has an easy slip fit into hub and supports thehub 51 and hence brush 16. The wheel member 52 includes an integral stubshaft 53 that extends into a bearing 54 which in turn is mounted in abearing housing 55 that is made integral with the disc member 46 of thearm 43. The wheel member 52 is made so that the outer peripheralportions thereof are concentric with and overlap the bearing housing 55in order to save space in the mounting assembly and also shield thebearing. Thus the brush is mounted by idler stub shaft 53 turning in thebearing 54 and brush 16 rotates about the axis of the stub shaft 55.

An annular ring or shield 55, which is channel-shaped in cross section,as best seen in FIG. 3, is fixedly attached to the disc-like member 46of the arm 43. The outer flange of the annular ring 56 overlaps theouter edge portions 57 of the tubular core 32 of the rotary brush andthe inner flange extends into that part of the flange 47 which fits theinner surface of tube 32. As the core 32 rotates, the ring remainsstationary and helps to prevent foreign material from entering theregion of the bearing 54 and damaging the moving parts.

The driven-end support assembly 31 of the rotary brush includes anL-shaped arm 62 having a spur 71 on which is mounted a disc-shapedmember 63 which covers the end of tube 32. This member 63 is ofsubstantially the same outer diameter as the tubular core 32 of therotary brush, is transverse to the axis thereof and is held in place bybolts 58. Arm 66 extends through a hole in disc 63. Disc 63 has twoconcentric flanges 85 which fit close to but clear the marginal innerand outer edges of tube 32, much like the flanges on ring 56 at theopposite end of tube 42. These prevent entry of undue amounts of dust,dirt, string, etc. into tube 32.

The arm 62 has an integral hub 64 that is fastened on shaft 34 by pin65. A leg member 66 on the L-shaped arm extends through disc 63 into theinterior chamber 39 of tubular core member 32. Leg 66 is substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of tube 32 but is offset from thecenter.

A hydraulic motor 67 is fastened to the leg 66 with a plurality ofscrews 68 and with a motor retainer plate 69 that is fastened to themotor and to the leg 66 with screws 70.

An internal flange 74 is shaped as shown in FIG. 3 is slipped inside thetubular core 32 and fastened to the wall of the core with rivets 75. Theinternal flange 74 is the drive flange for the brush. The flange 74 hasan integral hub 76 that is concentric with the hub 51 of the idlerflange and concentric with tube 32. An internal drive member 77 has aneasy slip fit within hub 76 and is driven through suitable drive keys 78that are fixedly attached to the interior surfaces of hub 76 and fit ingrooves 79 provided in drive member 77.

The drive member 77 is provided with a bore 80 that receives motoroutput drive shaft 81 to which it is pinned at 82. Thus whenever themotor output shaft 81 is rotating under power the drive member 77rotates and consequently flange 74 and the rotary brush 16 will also berotated.

The flanges 85, which are fixed to disc-shaped member 63 overlap endportion 86 of the drive end of the tubular core member 32 and, as doesring 56 on the idler end of the brush, prevent entry of dirt and foreignmaterial into the interior chamber of the tubular core 32. Thus therotary brush is mounted so that it is rotatable with respect to thedrive end support assembly 31 and the idler end support assembly 30. Theidler end of brush is rotatably mounted in bearing 54 and the drive endis mounted on and rotatably carried by the hydraulic motor output shaft81. The axis of the motor shaft and the center line of the bearing areconcentric.

The motor 67 is a hydraulic motor of known design and has an inletopening 87 and an outlet opening 88. The inlet opening 87 and outletopening 83 are positioned to align with the ends 89A of an inlet conduit89 and end 90A of outlet conduit 90, respectively. These conduits areprovided by passageways in the L-shaped arm 62. The leg 66 of arm 62 hasa manifold platform 91 that aligns with a flat manifold 91A on thehydraulic motor 67 and it is through these manifold portions that theconnection between the conduits in leg 66 and the inlet and outletopenings 87 and 88 respectively of the motor is accomplished. Suitablesealing means (not shown) are provided to prevent leakage of hydraulicfluid.

The inlet and outlet conduits 89 and 90, respectively, are connected toa suitable flexible inlet hose 96 and an outlet hose 95 which in turnpass through openings in housing 17 and are connected to a valve 97. Thevalve 97 receives fluid under pressure from a pump 98 which drawshydraulic fluid from reservoir 99. The pump 98 is capable of deliveringa sufficient volume of fluid at a high enough pressure to operate motor67 effectively. A reservoir 99 is also provided to receive returnedhydraulic fluid. The pump, valve and reservoir are connected togetherwith suitable conduits 100 as shown schematically in FIG. 2.

In order to operate the brush, the valve 97 is moved to position todirect fluid under pressure from pump 98 through inlet hose 96 and thusthrough conduit 89 and into inlet opening 87 of the motor. The motorthen drives output shaft 81 which in turn drives through drive member 77and flange 74 to the tubular core member 32 of the rotary brush. Fluidwill be exhausted out through the opposite motor opening and outletconduits. The brush will be rotated in direction as indicated by arrow23 and will sweep debris and dirt from surface 22 into the pan 24. Ifthe motor or the brush is to be stopped, the valve is returned to a"neutral" position wherein fluid from the pump is recirculated directlyto a reservoir 99 and the motor 67 will stop. The device can be reversedby reversing the direction of flow of the fluid under pressure, ifdesired.

The rotary brush can be raised and lowered very easily by suitablemechanism operating lift rods 38 and arms 37. There is no need toprovide for change of chain length or other problems encountered whenmechanical drives are employed. The self-contained drive unit makes therotary brush simple to operate and prevents damage to the drivecomponents, as the components are within the interior chamber 39 oftubular core 32. The components are also protected from dirt and dust asthe slinger rings provide an adequate seal to prevent introduction offoreign material. The unit is compact in design and thus highlymaneuverable, particularly in narrow places.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. Inthis form of the invention the rotary brush is mounted ahead of thesweeping machine and can easily be attached and removed for use inspecial jobs such as windrowing dirt, debris and snow. There are nochains or other moving drive members that have to be connected. Itshould be noted that parts identical with parts in the first form of theinvention will be identically numbered.

In this embodiment of the invention also, a rotary brush 16 includes atubular core member 32 with bristles 33 mounted thereon. A hydraulicmotor 67 is positioned to drive the drive flange 74 in the same manneras in the previous form of the invention. The idler end assembly 30 issubstantially the same as in the first form of the invention with theexception that an arm 110 is utilized which is removably attached bybolts 112 to a cross frame 113.

On the drive end of the brush an arm 111 is utilized which is alsofastened with suitable bolts 112 to a cross frame 113. Cross frame 113is positioned behind the brush 116 and extends parallel to the brush.Three pairs of ears 114L, 114C and 114R are fixedly attached to the topsurface of cross frame 113 and all are apertured along a common axis.These ears are utilized (the center pair and either end pair), two at atime, to hold the cross frame 113. A pair of short connector links 115Land 115R are pivotally mounted on the common aperture axis and attachedto the two outer parts of ears 114L or 114R. A long connector link 116is pivotally mounted also on the common axis and attached to the centerpair of ears 114C.

The long connector link 116, in the center, and one short connector ateither end are attached to a suitable pusher frame assembly 117-125-124with pins 118. The pusher frame assembly 117-125-124 has a pair ofintegral stub lift pins 120, 120 that are adapted to fit into notches 27of the forward arms 26 of the street sweeping machine 10. The arms 26are adapted to be swung up and down through the instrumentality ofhydraulic cylinder 121 on the machine that can be caused to exert aforce on a lever 122 and rotate a rock shaft 123, on which the arms 26are mounted. The rock shaft is rotatably mounted with respect to thesweeping machine 10. Thus the arms which can be raised or lowered todump pan 24 (FIG. 1) can also be raised or lowered to pick up an object,such as the pusher frame assembly 117 or to adjust the height thereof,and the machine 10 therefore has much versatility.

It should be noted that the pusher frame assembly includes a crossmember 124 to which a swinging support arm 125 is pivotally mounted, asat 126. The long connector link 116 is pivoted on the end of arm 125 bypin 118. The short connector links 115L or 115R at either the left orright end of cross member 113 can be attached to frame 117. The swingingsupport arm 125 can be moved from position as shown in FIG. 9 toward theopposite side of the pusher frame and secured at either position by adrop pin at position 130L or 130R. In either position the whole brush 16and cross frame 113 can be swung on pivot 118 to bring the other shortlink 115L or 115R to registry with frame 117. In FIG. 9 the shortconnector link 115R at the right end of the cross member 113 is attachedto frame 117 by pin 130R and the angle of the rotary brush is set tosweep to the right. This can be changed to the position as shown indotted lines at 129 in FIG. 9 by changing the position of the arm 125and securing it at pin 130R and by then swinging brush 16 and frame 113to bring link 115L to a position to register with pin 130L where it issecured.

In order to drive the rotary brush in its position as shown in FIGS. 8and 9 it is only necessary to connect two hydraulic lines 127, 127leading to the hydraulic motor 67. This can be accomplished with quickacting hydraulic couplers. The drive connection is thus very simple andrapid to make.

As stated previously, the front housing 25 and pan 24 of the sweepingmachine can be removed from the arms 26 and the pusher frame 117installed in a matter of minutes. In addition to the stub pins 120 forconnecting the pusher frame to the arms 26 a clamp 128 can be utilizedto hold the frame in place on the arms.

The brush will be operated as in the form of the invention, by moving avalve to position to direct fluid under pressure to motor 67 and rotatethe brush. As the street sweeping machine moves forward the brush willrotate and sweep material into a windrow deposited outside the trailingend of the brush. The brush mounted in this manner can be used forsweeping snow or for other jobs where the material does not have to beremoved but merely placed in a windrow. The rotation of the brush isreversible by reversing the flow of fluid under pressure to the motor.

The brush angle can be reversed quickly through use of the swinging armand releasable connector links. The unit can be adapted to any sweepingjob.

FIG. 10 illustrates a further modification of the device of theinvention wherein a hydraulic drive motor 135 is mounted partiallywithin a tubular core member 136 of an implement and has an output shaft137 that is drivably mounted in a flange 138 that is fixed to the coremember 136.

The hydraulic motor 135 is of modified design, having a manifold portion140 at a rear end thereof that mates with a manifold 141 of a supportarm 142. Inlet and outlet hydraulic conduits 143 and 144 respectivelyare provided within the support arm 142 and these align with inlet andoutlet openings in the hydraulic motor. The motor may be attached tosupport arm 142 with cap screws 145 and a support plate 146.

An end plate 149 is fixed to arm 142 and has an annular slinger ring 150that overlaps the end portion of the tubular core member 136 to prevententry of dirt and foreign material into the core. The motor 135 extendsthrough a provided hole 148 into the interior of the core.

As can be seen, the hydraulic motor 135 extends only partially into thechamber of the core member. However, the drive shaft of the motor isprotected from damage and the overall width of the unit is notincreased.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this inventionas hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spiritand scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by wayof example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. The combination with a sweeping machine having aframe .Iadd.including an implement housing with a pair of end walls.Iaddend.a pair of .Iadd.pinstable .Iaddend.support members, means formounting said support members on said frame .Iadd.closely adjacent saidhousing end walls, .Iaddend.and a tubular member rotatably mountedbetween said support members for rotation about the longitudinal axis ofthe tubular member, of:a drive mechanism for rotating said tubularmember, said drive mechanism including: a source of .Iadd.fluid.Iaddend.power in a form capable of being transmitted by conduit means,a motor fixedly attached to a first of said support members, said motorhaving an output shaft and being capable of utilizing power from saidsource to rotate said output shaft, said motor being locatedsubstantially within the interior chamber defined by said tubularmember, drive means connected between said output shaft for driving saidtubular member and supporting a first end of said tubular member,.Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.conduit means connected between said power sourceand said motor, and control means to control the transmission of powerthrough said conduit means to said motor.
 2. The combination asspecified in claim 1 wherein said source of power is a source of fluidunder pressure and said motor is a fluid motor.
 3. The combination witha frame movable over a supporting surface, and a pair of support armsattached to said frame, of:a source of fluid under pressure on saidframe, a fluid motor fixedly attached to a first of said support arms,said motor having an output shaft and being capable of utilizing saidfluid under pressure to rotate said output shaft under power, a driveflange drivably mounted on the output shaft of said fluid motor, atubular implement drivably mounted in surrounding relationship to thedrive flange adjacent a first end thereof and rotatably mounted on asecond of said arms at a second end thereof, conduit means connectedbetween said source of fluid under pressure and said fluid motor.Iadd.said conduit means including passageways in said supportarms.Iaddend., and control valve means located in said conduit means toselectively control the flow of fluid under the pressure from saidsource to said motor, said motor being located at least partially withinthe interior chamber defined by said tubular implement. .[.4. Thecombination as specified in claim 3 wherein said support arm to whichsaid motor is attached has passageways therein constituting portions ofsaid conduit means..].
 5. The combination with a power sweeping machinehaving a main frame and support means comprising first and second armson said frame, of:a source of fluid under pressure, a fluid motorfixedly mounted on a first of said support arms and having an outputshaft rotatable under power when said motor receives fluid underpressure, a tubular implement drivably mounted on and supported by saidoutput shaft of said fluid motor at a first end thereof and rotatablymounted on a second of said arms at a second end thereof, said motorbeing mounted substantially within the interior chamber defined by saidtubular implement, .Iadd.means for adjusting the orientation of saidtubular implement so that the axis of said tubular implement may beselectively positioned in opposite angular directions with respect tothe direction of travel of said machine, .Iaddend. conduit means openfrom said source of fluid under pressure to said fluid motor, andcontrol valve means located in said conduit means and adapted toselectively control flow of fluid under pressure from said source tosaid fluid motor.
 6. The combination as specified in claim 5 whereinsaid second arm is substantially planar and said first arm is L-shaped,one of the legs of said L-shaped arm projecting inwardly into theinterior chamber defined by said tubular implement, said fluid motorbeing fixedly attached to the leg of said arm that extends into saidchamber of said tubular implement.
 7. The combination of specified inclaim 5 wherein said support arms are mounted on said sweeping machinethrough independent means comprising a pusher frame mounted on said mainframe and extending forwardly from said power sweeping machine, andmeans for pivotally mounting said support arms to said pusher frame. 8.The combination with a prime mover having a main frame and adaptable tobe propelled along a supporting surface, of:a pusher frame mounted withrespect to said main frame ahead of said prime mover, a pair of supportarms, means for pivotally mounting said support arms on said pusherframe, a substantially cylindrical implement having a central tubularcore member rotatably mounted with respect to, and between said supportarms for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said tubular coremember, a source of fluid under pressure mounted on said prime mover, afluid motor fixedly mounted with respect to one of said support arms andhaving an output shaft rotatable under power when said motor receivesfluid under pressure, said motor being mounted within the interiorchamber defined by said tubular core member, drive means connectedbetween said output shaft of said fluid motor and said tubular core sothat when said output shaft is rotated said implement will rotate aboutits longitudinal axis, said pusher frame including adjustable mountingmechanism so that the axis of said tubular core member can beselectively positioned in opposite angular directions with respect tothe direction of travel of said prime mover, flexible conduit means openfrom said source of fluid under pressure to said fluid motor, saidconduit means being of sufficient length and flexibility to permit theangular position of said implement to be changed without disconnectingsaid conduit means, and control valve means located in said conduitmeans and adapted to selectively control flow of fluid under pressurefrom said source to said fluid motor.
 9. The combination as specified inclaim 8 wherein said implement is a cylindrical powered brush. .Iadd.10. The combination with a sweeping machine adapted to move over asurface to be swept comprising:a frame including implement housingmeans; first and second support members; means for pivotally mountingsaid first and second support members to said frame housing in spacedapart relationship, said first and second support members beingpivotable vertically away from said surface to be swept; and a tubularimplement member rotatably mounted between said first and second supportmembers for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the tubular member,of: a drive mechanism for rotating said tubular member, said drivemechanism including: a source of power in a form capable of beingtransmitted by a conduit means; a motor fixedly attached to said firstsupport member; said motor having an output shaft and being capable ofutilizing power from said source to rotate said output shaft; said motorbeing located substantially within the interior chamber defined by saidtubular member; drive means connected between said output shaft fordriving said tubular member and supporting a first end of said tubularmember; conduit means connected between said power source and saidmotor; said conduit means being at least partially flexible to allowpivotable movement of said first and second support members; controlmeans to control the transmission of power through said conduit means tosaid motor; and means connected to raise and lower said first and secondsupport arms and the axis of said tubular member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 11. Apower driven sweeper comprising: a frame member mounted on supportwheels and at least one drive wheel and adapted to move over a surfaceto be swept, said frame member including a brush housing; first andsecond support members; means for pivotally mounting said first andsecond support members in said brush housing in spaced apartrelationship, said first and second support members being pivotablewithin said housing for movement vertically away from said surface to beswept; a cylindrical brush member rotatably mounted between said firstand second support member for rotation about the longitudinal axis ofthe brush member; a source of fluid under pressure on said frame; amotor fixedly attached to said first support member; said motor havingan output shaft and being capable of utilizing said fluid under pressureto rotate said output shaft under power; said motor being locatedsubstantially within the interior chamber defined by said brush member;conduit means connected between said source of fluid under pressure andsaid motor, said conduit means being at least partially flexible toallow pivotable movement of said first and second support members;control means connected to control the flow of fluid under pressurethrough said conduit means to said motor independent of any drive tosaid sweeper; and means connected to raise and lower said first andsecond support arms and the axis of said brush member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A power driven sweeper comprising:a frame member mounted on supportwheels and at least one drive wheel and adapted to move over a surfaceto be swept; first and second support members each having first andsecond ends, the second end of said first support member having aprotrusion extending inwardly of said sweeper generally transversely atsaid sweeper; means for pivotally mounting the first ends of each ofsaid first and second support members to said frame in spaced apartrelationship, said first and second support members being pivotablevertically away from said surface to be swept; a cylindrical brushmember having a central tubular core member rotatably mounted betweensaid first and second support members for rotation about thelongitudinal axis of the brush member, the protrusion of said firstsupport member extending into said control tubular core member; a sourceof fluid under pressure on said frame; a motor fixedly attached to theprotrusion of said first support member; said motor having an outputshaft and being capable of utilizing said fluid under pressure to rotatesaid output shaft under power; said motor being located at leastpartially within the interior chamber defined by said tubular coremember; drive means connected between said output shaft for supporting afirst end of said brush member and for driving said brush member;conduit means connected between said source of fluid under pressure andsaid motor, said conduit means being at least partially flexible toallow pivotable movement of said first and second support members;control means connected to control the flow of fluid under pressurethrough said conduit means to said motor independent of any drive tosaid sweeper; and means connected to raise and lower said first andsecond support arms and the axis of said brush member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The combination with a sweeping machine comprising:a frame; a pairof support members; means for mounting said support members on saidframe; and a tubular member rotatably mounted between said supportmembers for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the tubular member,of: a drive mechanism for rotating said tubular member, said drivemechanism including: a source of power in a form capable of beingtransmitted by conduit means; a motor fixedly attached to a first ofsaid support members; said motor having an output shaft and beingcapable of utilizing power from said source to rotate said output shaft;said motor being located at least partially within the interior chamberdefined by said tubular member; conduit means connected between saidpower source and said motor; control means to control the transmissionof power through said conduit means to said motor; drive means connectedbetween said output shaft for driving said tubular member and supportinga first end of said tubular member, said drive means including: aninternal flange attached to said tubular member within said interiorchamber; and an internal drive member mounted on the output shaft ofsaid motor, said shaft extending through and directly driving saidflange. .Iaddend.